White-tailed Deer
CR

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_deer

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

White-tailed Deer face severe population declines in certain regions due to habitat fragmentation from urban development and agricultural expansion, which isolates populations and reduces genetic diversity. Vehicle strikes on roads fragmenting their habitat cause significant mortality, while climate change alters vegetation patterns and increases disease transmission rates. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, with some local populations experiencing critical declines despite broader species distribution.

Threat summary

Habitat

Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, agricultural areas, grasslands, and shrublands from sea level to mountainous regions up to 3000m elevation. They utilize forest understory for cover and adjacent open areas including meadows, crop fields, and suburban landscapes for foraging.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is White-tailed Deer classified as Critically Endangered?
White-tailed Deer is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. White-tailed Deer face severe population declines in certain regions due to habitat fragmentation from urban development and agricultural expansion, which isolates populations and reduces genetic diversity. Vehicle strikes on roads fragmenting their habitat cause significant mortality, while climate change alters vegetation patterns and increases disease transmission rates. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, with some local populations experiencing critical declines despite broader species distribution.
Where does White-tailed Deer live?
White-tailed Deer occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to White-tailed Deer?
The main threats to White-tailed Deer are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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